Tagged with 'apartment'

Open windows and balconies on busy streets can cause almost unlivable home, apartment, and condo noise. In this blog, we explain how to reduce traffic noise using acoustic panels.

Q:           My wife and I own a condo on the sixth floor of a building that fronts a busy street. We’re looking to learn how to reduce traffic noise on our balcony, which spans 2/3 of the width of our condo. I believe that the bulk of the noise is reflected from the balcony ceiling. The balcony decks are concrete, and the ceiling of our balcony is the underside of the deck above. Our ceiling is unfinished, and I am reluctant to drill into the concrete, so would prefer an adhesive application. The ceiling is 27' wide and 5'4" deep. The balconies are partially enclosed (Lexan panels on the lower half, screens on the upper) and the ceiling is largely protected from the weather, although in heavy rains some moisture will penetrate a few inches from the outside edge of the ceiling due to runoff from the deck above. Any help quieting our condo noise is appreciated.

A:            How to reduce traffic noise is a common question Audimute is asked. You are correct is assuming that a bulk of the condo noise is being reflected off of the ceiling of your balcony, and using absorption here will definitely help to reduce the amount of sound that is built up within your space.

Since the bottom half of the balcony is Lexan this, too, is helping to hold the reflected sound in and causing the sound pressure levels to build up. Treating the ceiling is most definitely the right way to go.

We would suggest our lightweight AcoustiColor™ flexible design acoustics for a custom color choice or natural sound absorbing wall tiles for a muted appearance. Made from our eco-C-tex recycled material, these lightweight frameless panel options are custom painted instead of fabric wrapped and can be mounted on the ceiling using a heavy duty construction adhesive instead of drilling holes into the concrete. It’s important to note that eco-C-tex is not designed for outdoor applications, but will hold up in situations where it is shielded from the harsher elements.

On a ceiling this size, a 12 pack of the 2'x4' panels would help to reduce the reflection off of the ceiling enough to make a noticeable difference. Keep in mind, though, that absorption materials will not eliminate the sound but help to reduce the build up of sound in the balcony causing your condo noise, resulting in what should be a quieter and more enjoyable space.

If you’re looking for how to reduce traffic noise in your home, check out our natural and custom colored eco-C-tex tiles, or call an Acoustic Specialist at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice.

Q:           We are looking for ways to soundproof a kennel we run in Westchester, New York. Our ultimate goal is to acoustically treat the room enough to stop sound transfer from the animals into neighboring businesses. We have done some research into Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) and are interested in the highest NRC rating we can find. What are the sound absorption ratings of Audimute products that would be best for us?

A:            You are on the right track looking for solutions with high NRC ratings.  A lot of animal lovers come to Audimute looking for ways to soundproof a kennel, apartment, or home because of our sound absorption ratings. In a situation like this where the concern is loud, reflective noises like barking and ways to stop sound transfer, your solution is adding soft materials to the walls. The kennels we have worked with have found our absorption sheets, eco-C-tex™ panels, and fabric acoustic panels are the best ways to do this:

• Audimute Sound Absorption Sheets have an NRC of .65, meaning they absorb about 65% of the sound. Because of their size, absorption sheets also help to cover more surface area, reducing a greater amount of hard reflective surfaces.

• Eco-C-tex™ AcoustiColor™ flexible design acoustics have an NRC of .95, making this material a more effective option over the sheets. We’ve expanded the size and color options of our eco-C-tex™ line – and even include shapes and letters – making it easy to treat spaces of any size, and ceilings if needed.

• Fabric Sound Panels have an NRC of 1.0, absorbing 100% of the sound that hits them, and come in a few options. Original metal framed fabric acoustic panels are great to install in the first point of contact, meaning where the first place most of the sound hits the wall, to break up the hard surface. In a space such as a kennel you may need a larger, full coverage application, which is exactly what our new frameless fabric panels are designed for. These panels butt up next to each other for large scale, high traffic applications. These make it easy to build up your acoustic treatment until you reach your desired result, and can put on the ceiling if necessary.

Each of these products works by soaking up the majority of mid to high range frequencies, echoes, and reverberation before these sounds have a chance to transfer through your shared wall space. Our panels and sheets are hand crafted in the USA from fire rated, eco-friendly materials. Please keep in mind that they are not specifically designed to get wet, so we recommend placing them above crate level in the upper half of the wall.

Stop looking for ways to soundproof a kennel and take charge of your sound and space today by ordering your frameless soundproofing fabric panels. If you would like to discuss your space and the best acoustic approach, call an Acoustic Specialist today at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice, no strings attached.